Clutch mechanism.



J. GLVINCENT.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. 1913.

1,29 3,995. Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

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UNITED srarnsrarnnr UFPIQE.

JESSE G. VI1\TGE1\TT,-OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 PACKARD MOTOR GAR COMPANY, on DETROIT, MIcHI AN, ACORP ORATION OF MICHIGAN.

' CLUTCH MECHANISM.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 11, 1919 Application filerl April 14, 1913; Serial'No. 761,096. i

weight of the driven parts of the clutch and the connections from those parts to the 1 change speed gearing. One of the objects of the present invention is to produce a clutch in which the driven elements are light in weight.

Another object of the invention isto produce a clutch and its connected parts .of sim. ple and improved form and construction.

Other objects of the invention will be observed from thiefollowingdescription, taken in connection with the drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which is shown a longitudinal sectional view through a clutch and connected parts, embodying this invention.

In the drawing, 10 represents the motor crank shaft, upon the flange 11 of which is secured the fly wheel 12 as by bolts 13. Also secured to the flange 11 by these bolts is a connecting piece 14, which is formed with jaws 15, coiiperating with similar jaws 16, on a. sleeve 17. The sleeve 17 is keyed and secured upon the forward end of a shaft 18, by the key 19 and nut 20, which thereby in effect constitutes said shaft a detachable extension of the crank shaft 10. The forward cylindrical end 18 of the shaft 18 is also extended into an opening 21, formed centrally in the rearward end of the crank shaft 10, thus centering the shaft 18 relative to the crank shaft.

The shaft 18 may be called the clutch driving shaft, and the driven shaft of the clutch is shown at 22 and may be called the clutch shaft. It'is mounted in a bearing 23 in a support 24. A hearing 25 in the rearward end of the shaft 18 forms a relatively rotatable connection between the extension 18 and the clutch shaft 22. Thus the shaft 22 is axially alined with the shaft or extension 18 and the crank shaft 10.

States, and resident. of a backing plate 32 is ward end of the .drum 27 41, which is arranged shaft 18 and inclose the clutch spring 42,

The rear end of the shaft 18 is formed. with ,a flange 26, uponwhich is secured the clutch driving drum 27, as by the bolts 28.

Also the clutch driven shaft. 22 is formed with afiange 29, upon which is secured the clutch driven drum 30, as by the bolts 31. A

secured upon the rearby the securing nuts 33,, and a series of driving plates 34 are arranged to slide upon keys 35, ar-

rangedlongitudinally of the driving drum 27. Similar plates .36jare keyed upon the driven drum 30 and arranged alternately with the plates 34, all of the plates being pressed. together in frictional contact by the foremost master plate 37 The web of. the driving drum 27 isformed nearits periphery with 38, through which the fingers 39 of a spider 40 may pass to operate the plates within the clutch drum. The spider 40 is thereby causedi to turn with the driving drum and it is secured upon a cylindrical part of a sleeve to slide upon the which is adapted to be compressed by said sleeve between its shoulder 43 and a shoulder 44 formed by the sleeve 17 on the forward end of the shaft 18. Al shifter ring 45 is arranged to shift the sleeve 41 by means of a thrust bearing 46, one of the disks of which is secured between a shoulder 47, formed integrally with the sleeve 41, and a ring 48 extending forwardly from the thrust bearing to the rear end of the hub of the spider 40. All of these parts are then firmly secured upon the sleeve 41 by means of a nut 49.

Any suitable means, not shown, may be provided for shifting the shifter ring 45 to compress the spring 42 and thereby release the clutch.

The rear end of the shaft 22 may be connectedwith any suitable driving connection between it and the change speed gearing of the vehicle, and, in the drawing, the rear end of said shaft is shown as having one of the gears 50 keyed directly thereto, and one of the driven shafts of the change speed gearing is indicated at 51 as mounted directly in a bearing 52 in the rear end of said shaft 22.

It will be seen, therefore, that the driven parts of the clutch are very light in weight, all of the heavy parts being mounted upon a series of openings 7 the extension 18 of the crank shaft 10, andtlIalZy thBI'GfOF-G, When the clutch is released,

A specific embodiment of the invention hasbeen described in detail, and Will be spe cifically claimed, but it Will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of constructionshown, as it Will be apparent that changes may be made vvithont departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my" invention,- what- I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat'- ent is:

1. In a motor vehicle, in combination, a motor crank shaft having a flywheel at one end, a shaft detaohably secured to'the crank shaft and forming an alinedextension be yond the flywheel, a driven shaft mountedin supporting bearings-in line with the crank shaft,- a'relatively rotatable'eonnection be tween the free end of said extension and the adjacent end of said driv n shaft, a clutch part on said extension, a clutch part on said driven shaft,-clii-tch members for said parts for forming a drivingbonneetion fr'or'none art to the other, and a spring on said extension for operatingthe cll'itch,

2. In a motor v'ehicle, inconrbination, a drive shaft and a driven shaft axially 'alined,

flanges on the adjacent ends of said shafts, clutchdrivingand driven, drums detachably mounted on. the fianges of said respective driving and driven shafts,clutch plates between said": drums, a sleeve slidable on the driving shaft, a spider on said sleeve and actuating, said-clutch plates, a spring around said driving shaft under said sleeveacting to force said-spider to normally press said clutch plates into frictional engagement.

3. In a motor vehicle, ineombination, a di ive shaft and a driven shaft axially alined, flanges on the adjacent ends of said shafts, clutch driving and driven drums detachably mounted on the flanges of said respective driving and: driven shafts, clutch plates between said drums, a sleeve slidable on the drivingshaft, shoulder onv the rearward end of the sleeve bearing on the driving shaft, a spider on said sleeve' and actuating said clutch plates, a springzaround said driviin'g' shaft under said sleeve acting on said shoulder to move said sleeve relatively 55 to said shaft and: to force-said; spider tonormally press said clutch plates into frictional engagement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses: r

JESSE G. VINCENT. Witnesses? l O. HUNT,

R01 J WILLIAMS.

topics, thisfiatent-may be obtainedztoi five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofll'atents, wamm to ac." V r v p 

